Vintage Finn?

[PeterV]

Inspiered by our new Commodore's wonderful Int. 14 and his plea for more vintage boats I was wondering if there are any vintage Finns around in the UK. I'm not sure if a Raudaschl qualifies (edge nailed strip planked) but I couldn't think of any others as I think all British built boats were moulded. Any ideas?

[Rupert]

Maybe a vintage O-Jolle instead?

It got me thinking about the Vintage British Moth that Jim has, too...

[PeterV]

O Jolle? My only thought was that there was probably a very good reason no-one wanted to sail them for a second Olympics! (Of course the same could be said for the Firefly, but then it wasn't really a single hander). I know that the first Finns were double diagonal traditional construction, built over frames with ribs added afterwards, but I think the first UK Finns were moulded, probably by Fairey and finished by Tormentor.

[Rupert]

It appears to have survived as a class in Europe? Can't be that bad?

[neil]

Looking at the original design competition for the Olympic singlehander by the Finnish YA in 1949, they only specified round bilge, but no construction method specified.

I can't find all the photos but I know Sarby's, Carlsson's and Anderson's boats were strip planked over moulds. I would imagine that Thorell's and Rehlander's boats were the same. I think all these designers came from a Scandinavian canoe background where home building on frames was pretty common. Thorell was doing this with his canoes since the 1920s. Sarby even admits he was influenced by Thorell's canoe designs, having built and sailed a number of his canoes).

But it looks like all early Finns in the UK are moulded Fairey/Tormentor and the first Raudaschl boat was 1961 (so wouldn't be a vintage boat)

[PeterV]

But is there an age requirement for a vintage boat, the vintage wing page says a Tideway qualifies?

[chris]

Vintage is taken as ribbed, clenched nail, solid timber etc. ie pre glue ( some examples didn't have ribs!)
Hope that helps

[PeterV]

So a Raudaschl Finn, dating from around 67 to 70 would be a vintage boat? They were strip planked and edge nailed. I don't think there's many left though as the nails were galvanised and rusted over the years.
Neil sailed his Raudaschl as a classic though, not in the vintage wing.

[Rupert]

Fits the Classic criteria, I'd say, not the vintage.

At one point we looked at widening the vintage division to include boats from the 50's still in original condition (speedwise, the fit was good) but owners considered they were sailing classic boats, not vintage, so we kept things as was.

[Nessa]

There's a 1964 hull on the Facebook Dinghies and Dinghy Bits page.

[neil]

that's my old Elvstrom, sold it complete last year as a project. It's been through a couple of owners and it's been raided for bits so it's now pretty worthless as it has no rig, rudder, fittings or sails. Shame really as it was a decent hull.

[Obscured by clouds]

is it now in southampton? I just boughta rudder and stock plus a 'decent' looking sail from the site. was tempted with the hull - my Taylor leaksa nd needs a fair amount of work - but a six hour drive to see a potential hulk is'nt on the cards

[alan williams]

Hi Tony
The Hull is good Neil replaced the mast foot properly and she's worth the trip. You could transfer the Taylor equipment on to her and have a reasonably fast boat for not a lot of cost.
Regards Alan
Ps Sold my Taylor and it's going to be restored and return to the classic fleet not broken up.

[Obscured by clouds]

Very tempted, but a looong way to go, as is the Mader in Norfolk

[ent228]

Was the Elvestrom Finn the one in Newton Abott recently (see boats for sale Aug 19th "Gold Cup Finn hull for free" by roiz89)?

If so, JB9 made an offer for it so maybe it's not in South Hampton now.........